Bentonville, Arkansas-based Walmart plans to open its first owned and operated case-ready beef facility in 2025 in Olathe, Kansas.
Set to break ground later this year, the facility will offer greater visibility into the supply chain, increasing the company’s capacity to fulfill demand for quality beef while creating more than 600 jobs in the Olathe area.
The retailer announced plans to create an end-to-end supply chain for Angus beef in 2019, with the goal of providing more options for customers. Since then, it has implemented strategies to ensure customers can buy beef that delivers with its equity investment in Sustainable Beef LLC.
Once opened, the new facility in Kansas will package and distribute a selection of Angus cuts from Sustainable Beef LLC in North Platte, Nebraska, to serve stores across the Midwest.
“Technological advances in the food supply chain continue to reshape the industry. Walmart’s innovative new facility further solidifies Kansas’ position as one of the nation’s top food and agriculture states,” Gov. Laura Kelly said.
In a statement, the company said: “The way our customers shop for food has evolved over the past few years, with more seeking greater transparency in the supply chain. We’ll continue to work hand in hand with our suppliers to ensure we’re delivering high-quality products, increasing transparency, resiliency and capacity through the supply process and meeting increased demand for our customers.
“Once opened, our case-ready beef facility in Olathe, Kansas, will mark an important next step in our journey to create an end-to-end Angus beef supply chain, ensuring our customers have access to the high-quality meats they expect at [low prices.]”
